I feel like I say this a lot, but I’m obsessed with the Canon Rebel K2. So much so that when my sister asked if she could borrow mine for our family trip to Italy, I had a brief freak out and then somehow convinced her to buy her own instead! It’s only $30-60 so it didn’t really make sense that I was stressing out so much about something happening to mine, except for the fact that it was my very first film camera and changed the whole trajectory of my life (no big deal). The first photographs I ever developed in the darkroom were taken with my Canon Rebel K2 and I’ve been a photographer ever since! I suppose I have quite the sentimental attachment to it that I wasn’t fully aware of until my sister’s inquiry.
I don’t typically bring my Canon Rebel K2 with me on trips because I have so many other cameras that are technically “better”, but I recently took it with me to Italy and France. On my first trip to Paris in 2010, I used my Canon Rebel K2 and Neopan Acros 100 film. I’m still in love with those photos so I decided to recreate that same camera set-up during my recent trip. I brought a few rolls of Neopan Acros 100 (version II - they don’t make the original version of this film anymore) and once again, this camera delivered. I think it’s going to be hard to leave this camera at home when I go on future trips - there’s just something special about it.
The Canon Rebel K2 has all of the features you’d want in a travel camera: a SUPER lightweight body, automatic and manual settings, a flash, a multiple exposure feature and an option for a zoom lens ( I use the Canon 28-90mm f/5.6 kit lens - you should be able to find one on eBay here!). It’s also incredibly inconspicuous and is great for street photography. I’m quite a shy person, so the idea of bothering someone or making them upset with me if I took their photo would be my nightmare, so the fact that this camera doesn’t stand out or look expensive or distracting is a positive feature in my book. I’m always surprised by how sharp the images turn out, especially using a kit lens. But I think it definitely helps to use a 100 speed film like Neopan Acros 100. I also think it’s just the combination of the camera and film that is a perfect duo. Every once in a while I stumble across a camera/film combo that just works, and this is one of those. I’d highly recommend this set up for beginners too because the Canon Rebel K2 can be used in full auto or full manual, as well as aperture priority and shutter priority. I always recommend black and white film for beginners too because it’s a great way to learn composition, light, shadows and tonal range, especially if you’re developing your own film in the darkroom. I’ll always be grateful for the foundation of photography knowledge that I gained through developing and printing my own film photos. If you have access to a darkroom class, you should definitely sign up!
I’ve included a few of my favorite photographs from 2010, followed by a few of my favorites from my recent trip. I still think that there’s something beautiful about the original version of the Neopan Acros 100 film - it seems sharper and better at capturing detail in the highlights and shadows. The new version of the film is still beautiful but just doesn’t seem to bring that same moodiness that I loved so much in the original version. I’d love to know your thoughts and if you notice a difference in the two films!
If you love this camera as much as I do, make sure to check out my YouTube video and review for the Canon Rebel K2 below, or you can purchase your own:
WHERE TO FIND A CANON REBEL K2
FILM RECOMMENDATIONS:
If you’re interested in reading about other 35 mm cameras, make sure to check out my post - the Top 10 35mm Film Cameras fo Beginners! And if you found this post helpful in any way, I’d love it if you considered signing up for my Patreon! For as little as $1 a month, you’ll get early access to all of my YouTube videos, plus tons of photos that I don’t post anywhere else. Depending on which tier you choose, you could also receive seasonal prints and/or discounts! I always use all of the proceeds towards cameras, film & processing.
If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help! You can contact me here, or leave a comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! You can also check out my B&H Photo storefront & Amazon Storefront for more camera/film recommendations. :) Have a magical day!
<3 Myles Katherine
